Hitachi Global Air Power Releases Climate Action Performance Update
Achieves Carbon Neutrality in Fiscal Year 2022*
MICHIGAN CITY, IND. (July 10, 2023) – Hitachi Global Air Power US, LLC, an industry leader in innovative compressed air solutions since 1965, today announced a climate action performance update for fiscal year 2022. Notably the company achieved carbon neutrality throughout its global operations* as part of the company’s Long-Term Climate Action Strategy.
This strategy comes in line with Hitachi, Ltd.’s long-term environmental targets, titled “Hitachi Environmental Innovation 2050.” The Hitachi Group has set a target of becoming carbon neutral in all its global factories and offices by fiscal 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality throughout its entire value chain by fiscal 2050. The Hitachi Global Air Power Michigan City campus achieved carbon neutral status in fiscal 2021 (ending March 31, 2022) and globally* in fiscal 2022 (ending March 31, 2023).
“We want to be an industry leader in how to sustainably build real world compressed air and service solutions,” said Hitachi Global Air Power President and CEO, John Randall. “Operating sustainably is not only the right thing to do but more and more it is becoming an expectation of our customers. To truly be a leader in this area, we are evolving our culture to think and act differently and we’re making significant investments in our people and facilities to get there.”
To achieve the on-going targets, in fiscal year 2022 the company added a dedicated, cross functional sustainability team led by Luis Torres, Vice President, Global Sustainability. Torres has added oversight over all Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems sustainability efforts to drive alignment and facilitate change. The team is charged with establishing sustainable business practices and with installing a sustainability mindset throughout the company’s culture. This includes ensuring product development teams are designing compressed air solutions that are both durable and able to be remanufactured for a second and third life.
Torres and his team manage the company’s active whole good remanufacturing program, which disassembles, recycles, reuses, and ultimately re-manufacturers air compressors to ‘better than when new’ condition. Now in its 10th year, the program has helped offset more than 5,000 metric tons of CO2 production through salvage and reclaim of components.
“We are accelerating our sustainability efforts and doing so in a way that keeps the customer front of mind,” said Torres. “We have a lofty goal – to be carbon neutral throughout our value chain by 2050. We can’t accomplish that by thinking small. The products we manufacture, the way we manufacture and how we go to market all need to be focused on our customer - and the preservation of our planet. We are making great progress and our business is better for it.”
The recent introduction of the E1035H electric portable air compressor is an example of the company’s more sustainable approach to design. The E1035H was engineered to provide the same power and performance as its diesel counterparts, but with zero emissions. Intended for the construction and rental markets, including for use as back-up plant air, the E1035H marks a new era of innovation for Hitachi Global Air Power and is the first of many planned products to help customers meet both their business and sustainability goals.
Fiscal Year 2022 Long-Term Climate Action Highlights
1. On-going Capital Expenditure Improvement Projects
United States – Michigan City, Ind.
• Upgraded the HVAC system, resulting in a reduction of 548 metric tons of CO2 emissions
• Nearly 1,100 fluorescent lights upgraded to high-efficiency LED lighting, resulting in a reduction of 317 metric tons of CO2 emissions
• Installed 80 pace node devices to monitor energy usage on each piece of equipment resulting in a reduction of 479 metric tons of CO2 emissions
Australia
• Added PV (solar) panels in Dandenong South (Melbourne, Victoria), Paget, (Mackay, Queensland), and Berrinba, (Brisbane, Queensland) branches resulting in an estimated 45 metric tons reduction of CO2 emissions
China
• Added solar panels at manufacturing facility resulting in an estimated 647 metric tons reduction of CO2 emissions
2. Voluntary Green Power
• In the United States, Hitachi Global Air Power transitioned to 100 percent renewable electricity through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) for all US locations*. Through the REC program, certificates purchased allow Hitachi Global Air Power to designate a portion of its monthly electric usage to come from power generated by hydro-electric sources.
• In China, Hitachi Global Air Power transitioned to 100 percent renewable electricity through the purchase of International Renewable Energy Certificate (I-REC). Through the I-REC program, certificates purchased allow Hitachi Global Air Power to designate a portion of its monthly electric usage to come from power generated by hydro-electric sources.
• In Australia Hitachi Global Air Power transitioned to 100 percent renewable electricity through a voluntary green power program at all facilities which purchases Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) on the company’s behalf and allows Hitachi Global Air Power to designate a portion of its monthly electric usage to come from power generated by renewable energy sources.
3. Voluntary Carbon Offset Program
Implemented a voluntary carbon offset program allowing Hitachi Global Air Power to offset CO2 emissions while developing and implementing future additional measures for fossil fuel use reduction over the next three years.
* Company-owned distributors California Compression and CDA Systems, acquired in February 2023, were not included in the fiscal year 2022 carbon neutral calculation. The companies will be included in the fiscal year 2023 sustainability update and carbon neutrality update.